William j



(No Model.) W. J. HAMILL.

SLEIGH.

No. 399,890. Patented Mar. 19, 1889.

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SLEIGHI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 399,890, dated March 19, 1889.- Application filed December 15,1883. Serial No. 293,703. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. H AMILL, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, resid ing at St. Catharin es, in the Province of ()n tario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Sleighs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has relation to sleighs, and more particularly to that class thereof commonl y known as gentlemens driving or road sleighs, the style of sleigh being distinguishable from others by its lightness of build.

Among the objects in view are to improve the construction of the sleigh-frame by omitting the numerous braces running in diverse directions and substituting therefor a combined bench and knee of peculiar and novel construction, which in and of itself is of great lightness, strength, and rigidity.

Other objects and advantages of the inven tion will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will. be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents a side elevation of a sleigh-frame constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 a rear end elevation, and Fig. 3 a front end elevation.

Like numerals of reference indicate like partsin all the figures of the drawings.

1 represents the runners; 2, the fenders, to the upper faces of which are connected the shafts 3.

In practicing my invention I construct the knee and bench t preferably of wood, the same being bent upon substantially a halfcircle, the center of which is substantially in a line with the runners 1 and midway the same, the ends of the knees being secured to the runners in any suitable manner. In this instance I have employed but two knees, which I think sufficient for the purpose in view; but. I may increase the number of knees in accordance with. the style of sleigh being built. Knees and benches thus constructed have usually been braced by diagonal braces extending from the runners, which, while adding consideralfle weight to the frame, do not give the required rigidity, but on account of the numerous bolts employed in connecting the parts soon work loose, rendering the entire frame shaky and unfit for use. In my invention, however, I omit the braces mentioned, whereby I secure lightness, and strengthen the knee and bench by substituting a truss, 5, either constructed of wood or metal, and like the knee formed upon a circle the radius of which is somewhat larger than that upon which the knee is formed, by which construction, while the center portion of the truss is some distance from the same portion of the knee, its ends will terminate short of the ends of the knees, and at this point they are secured or bound together by sockets or clips (5 or by bolts.

7 represents the cross-pieces, which are mounted one upon each knee, and are secured thereto at its center by means of a center bolt, 8, similar bolts, 9, being passed diagonally through the truss, knee, and cross-piece at each side of the center bolt. From this it is apparent that a knee and bench thus constructed is extremely rigid, and no requirement whatever exists for cross-braces.

If desired, I may provide front and rear braces, 1.0, extending from the socket G to the runner at each side of the knee, and a further brace, 11, extending from the socket forwardly and upwardly and connected to the fender 2, these being for the purpose of strengthening the fender against downward pressure and removing that pressure from the ends of the cross-pieces upon which the fenders are mounted.

For the purpose of aiding in supporting the cross-pieces, I insert bet-ween the knee at each side and the ends of the cross-pieces a curved brace, 12, which are bolted to the ends of the cross-pieces at their upper ends and to the knee at their lower ends, the latter be ing formed by means of a diagonally-inserted bolt, 13, extending through and binding together the brace, knee, and truss.

Between the fender and the front curved 9 portion of the runner I insert a diagonallydisposed. brace, 14, the lower end being secured to the runner and the upper portion being secured to the fender. A clip, 15, is

mounted on the brace 14, and from said clip 10o to the runner at its curved portion there extends a horizontal brace, 16, and from the clip to the rear of the brace 14 to the runner there extends a diagonal brace, 17, by which 5 the front curved portion of the runner is greatly strengthened.

18 represents the front curved brace, the terminals of which are secured to the fenders and the center of which is bolted to the front knee and cross-piece by a center bolt, 8, and the diagonal bolts 9. The sides of the diagonal braces 14 are provided with a curved branch brace, 19, which extends upwardly and to the rear and terminates and is bolted to the I 5 under surface of the curved front brace, 18, as at 20. This inclined brace 14, together with its branch and the curved transverse brace 18, effectually prevents the spreading of the two runners.

Having described my invention, whatI claim 1. A sleigh-knee formed in arch shape and provided with a brace consisting of a curved truss formed on a center eccentric with that of the knee, the curve of the truss being greater than that of the knee, substantially as specified.

2. A sleigh knee and benchformed in arch shape and provided with a curved truss, the

curve of the truss being greater than that of the knee and the center thereof being eccentric with that of the knee, and devices for binding the knee and truss in relative position, substantially as specified.

3. In a sleigh-frame, the combination, with asleigh-knee formed on substantially a halfcircle and provided with a truss formed on a half-circle, the radius of which is greater than that on which the knee is formed and the center thereof being eccentric with" that of the knee, of a cross-piece secured to the knee, and bolts passing through the cross-piece, knee, and truss, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, with the runners 1, of the knees 4, the curved truss-braces 5, con- 5 nected, as at 6, to the knees, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, with the runners 1, fenders 2, and front curved brace, 18, of the diagonal brace 14, secured to the fenders, and provided with the branch brace 19, secured to the curved brace, and the clip 15, having the braces 16 and 17, substantially as specified.

6. The combination, with the runners 1, having the knees at, and trusses 5, secured thereto, as at 6, of the cross-pieces 7, secured to the knees and trusses, as at 8 and 19, and the interposed side braces, 12, secured to the cross-pieces at their upper ends and to the knees at their lower ends, as at 13, substan- 6o tially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. HAMILL.

Witnesses J. H. INGERSOLL, J. E. VARLEY. 

